Archive for July, 2007

Smart Strategies To Enhance Curb Appeal To Sell Your Home Fast

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

By Kris Koonar

Real estate is a highly competitive market. So when the market turns reasonable, the need for ”curb appeal” increases, increasing the success within the real estate market.

Strategies

If you plan to sell your home then your prime criteria would be to attract and impress the buyer. Rework on the home, such that the prospective buyer falls in love with your house. Buyers by no means are interested in homes that need maintenance. A neat and well-maintained home reflects the taste and style of the owner. So if the house is attractive, the faster will it sell.

Exterior- Curb appeal can be improved by first addressing the address marker. You would surely want the buyer to find your home without any problem. So begin with your nameplate and house number and make them clearly visible from the street. The market is flooded with homes and if your home is not visible, the buyer will turn to the other options. Try to maintain your front yard as presentable as possible. The first impression is always the last impression and the buyers generally form an optimistic or pessimistic opinion in just few seconds. If you want to sell your house, you should always think from the buyer point of view.

Special attention should be given to the entry area. A well-manicured lawn and trimmed bushes and plants always appeal to the buyer. You can also try landscaping your garden. Make sure your front door is painted well and your door swings open freely. Ensure the working conditions of the external light fixtures and replace the doormat if it is dirty or torn. To add more appeal and make your home more alluring, you can add some wind chimes.

Interior- Ensure that all the paint is intact and if there is some chipping, then it should be covered up. For a clutter free home, get rid of all the bulky, unwanted furniture and then rearrange the room so that it gets a large airy look. Depersonalize your rooms by removing all the photo frames, or special room accessories. Each room should project a positive energy that easily attracts the buyer towards it.

Clean and wash your home not considering the season. Start of by cleaning the windows and scrub the walls. Dont forget to shampoo the carpet. Make sure that the kitchen is spotlessly clean. You can create additional space in the kitchen by disposing all the unwanted things and keeping away kitchen appliances that are not used daily. Organize your pantry and cupboards and also clean up the drawers and cabinets, so as to create an adequate space. Storage space that is clean and spacious generally gives a wider appearance.

Bathroom- When you start cleaning the bathroom, think of the buyer as a special guest and make sure your bathroom is spotlessly clean. Clean up your medical cabinet and the sink and create counter space to keep the toiletries. You can also add a glass vase full of seashells, or add themed accessories. Keep clean, fluffier towels and a thick rug to make your bathroom more appealing. Natural light always enhances the rooms and also gives it a wider appearance. Leave the curtains or shades open.

About The Author

Sell Your Home Fast for cash in 24 hours. If you need to Sell Your House Fast, then you have to check this service out at: http://www.asisnow.com.

Finding The Right Agent To Sell Your Home Fast

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

By Kris Koonar

A house is one of the best real estate properties that anyone can ever have. No matter how small or big your house is, it will always remain very valuable. As a homeowner, selling your house cannot be a very welcoming development and so if you do not find the idea very appealing, you can look out for a good real estate agent who can sell your house fast. If you are thinking of getting in contact with any real estate agent for selling your property, you should avoid walking into the office of the agent directly because letting a complete stranger sell your house is not a very good idea. It is not a very safe idea to entrust your property to just anyone in the first meeting.

The best method of choosing the right agent would be to ask for referrals from family and friends because dealing with people who are known is a better option than getting into the clutches of any unknown agent. After getting a referral from your friends and relatives you can get in touch with each agent in person and talk to him or her in detail regarding your house. When you talk to them make sure that the agent is listening to you properly and paying a lot of attention to whatever you have to say.

A good agent is the one who understands the need of the seller. Since both of you would be interacting so much, it would be better if you get along well with each other. There are some questions that you should ask the agent when you meet them in person. Ask them about their strategies of marketing a property because it is possible for any agent to place an ad and put your property among the multiple listings, but they need to market the property well. There are many agents who compile the listing of properties and let others sell it for them. So, be aware of such agents because the process might be profitable for them but you would have to face a loss.

Selling and buying of real estate can be a very stressful task and so it always good to take help from a real estate agent. In case you do not get referrals you can look for agents in the classified columns of the newspapers or collect few of the real estate guides so that you can look through some information. Browse through the list to look for properties that are the same as yours and note the numbers and names of the real estate agents who are selling those properties.

The main idea is to find an agent who has some experience with the kind of property you have. Take time and do some good research before you decide on one real estate agent because you should get the value your house is worth of. So keep all these factors in mind when you search for a good real estate agent who can sell your home fast and at a good price.

About The Author

Sell Your Home Fast for cash in 24 hours. If you need to Sell Your House Fast, then you have to check this service out at: http://www.asisnow.com.

Potential House Buyers Forced To \’Lower Their Sights\’

Monday, July 30th, 2007

By Tom Dawson

Prospective first-time buyers in London are struggling even more to get into the housing market, an industry expert has claimed.

According to Paula John, editor of Your Mortgage, consumers in the capital are having to wait an average of five years before they are able to save up enough cash to purchase their first home – a rise of some 11 months from a study conducted last year. Consequently, Ms John reported that due to the increased amount of time it takes to put money away to meet property deposits and secured loan costs, combined with recent interest rate rises by the Bank of England, “houses are even less affordable for first-time buyers so they are being kicked out of the market altogether”.

As a result those looking to buy a house across the country, but in particular London, are now being forced to “lower their sights” just so that they can get on to the property ladder. This has been said to lead to Britons being forced to accept that they are probably unable to afford the type of property they would like or in the area they would wish to live in. Consumers were also reported to be increasingly buying homes with friends, family members or partners in an attempt to afford increasing mortgage costs as they look to be “creative” on entering the housing sector.

The editor also reported that a number of parents could risk getting themselves into monetary difficulties in an attempt to help their children get their first home, as about half of prospective first-time buyers look to their families for financial aid. “Parents are giving up their savings and hard earned cash, even remortgaging and releasing equity from their own property in order to give it to their children to help them on to the property ladder” she commented.

Meanwhile, those thinking about opting for 100 and 110 per cent mortgages were advised to do so with “consideration”. Ms John claimed that although they can be helpful for some borrowers, overall she advised “they”re never ideal and they”re never charged at the very lowest rate on the market for obvious reasons. They can be useful if you absolutely have to get on the ladder now but you”ve got to pay the price for the convenience”.

Earlier today, figures released by the Land Registry indicated that despite property prices across the country having increasing over the course of June (0.4 per cent) this rate of growth was almost half of that recorded during the previous month (0.7 per cent). Overall, the average home was now reported to cost 181,039 pounds – a rise of 9.1 per cent from the same period in 2006. London was reported to have driven growth during the course of the month, as homes in the capital rose by 1.5 per cent to a typical value of 338,950 pounds.

During the last 12 months, the city was said to have seen an increase of 15.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the West Midlands witnessed the second highest price rises over June as they rose by 1.2 per cent. However, only half of the regions surveyed saw house costs rise with the remainder posting decreases – which were particularly driven by Wales (-1.1 per cent) and the East Midlands (-0.6 per cent).

About The Author

Tom Dawson is the Editor in Chief for Essentially Home Loans where visitors can apply for cheap loans online. We also specialise in debt consolidation loans, and secured loans. Visit our site today http://news.essentiallyhomeloans.co.uk

Property Purchasing \’Getting Worse\’ For Graduates

Monday, July 30th, 2007

By Steve Smith

An increasing number of graduates are unable to afford to take the first steps on the property ladder, new figures report.

In research carried out by Scottish Widows, some 56 per cent of those who have finished higher education are yet to buy their first property – an increase of three per cent from the same study carried out last year. Meanwhile, an estimated one in four people who graduated ten years ago are reported to not be on the housing ladder.

Statistics from the financial services provider revealed that increasing property prices were the main reason for graduates being squeezed out of the housing sector, with 70 per cent of non-homeowning graduates, an increase of six per cent from the 2006 study, citing this factor. According to the firm, the average home costs a typical graduate first-time buyer 122,045 pounds, with this figure increasing to 179,228 pounds for those living in London.

Richard Clark, head of product development and marketing for Scottish Widows, said: “This year”s report reveals that the situation really is getting worse for graduates. The main issue is that property prices and inflation are continuing to rise, but starting salaries have not moved in line with this. First-time buyers are struggling to save for that deposit and recent interest rate rises are acting as a further deterrent. Owning a home is likely to remain a pipe dream for many.”

Meanwhile, just under a fifth (19 per cent) of respondents claimed that if they were to buy a house then would be likely to be unable to make secured loan repayments. Some nine per cent of graduates were said to believe that money owed from their student loan is stopping them from getting on the property ladder, as one in eight claim other debts accrued on the likes of personal loans and credit cards are preventing them from buying their first home. Overall, graduates were said to be in debt of some 10,361 pounds upon leaving higher education. More than half (58 per cent) of consumers who have recently completed university believe that they do not currently earn enough money to allow them to enter the property market.

Mr Clark added that the company had witnessed a rise in popularity of 100 per cent mortgage products and those graduates looking for financial aid from their parents. Although the expert welcomed moves by the government to make property affordable for prospective first-time buyers he claimed “there is still much to be done to make the market more accessible”. His comments come after the financial services firm reported that 15 per cent of first-time buyers claimed that removing the need for a deposit would help them buy a home, with 13 per cent stating that purchasing a home would be easier if lenders consider their future earning potential rather than their current income.

Earlier this month, a study conducted by mform revealed that 2.08 million consumers aged under 35 are looking to take out a mortgage worth at least quadruple the amount of their annual pay. The research also showed that 828,000 are willing to opt for a secured loan at four times their salary. Marketing and business development director Francis Ghiloni claimed that as house prices continue to increase those aiming to get on the property ladder “will have to take on huge debt”.

About The Author

Steve Smith writes for 1 Stop Finance Shop. A one stop shop for all your loan requirements, from payday loans, to secured personal homeowner loans. Visit our site today: http://news.1stopfinanceshopuk.biz

What Is The Real Difference Between A Deed Of Trust And A Mortgage

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

By Gregg Hall

A mortgage is not interchangeable with a home loan. Under certain conditions, for a certain amount of money borrowers will sign a promissory note to the lender. The lender requires the borrower to sign a mortgage, to legally secure the lender. Mortgages are documents written to protect the lender”s interest in your property; hence a mortgage is not interchangeable with a home loan.

The mortgage creates a lien on your property, which is put into records to serve as security to the lender that you will pay back the borrowed money. Hence, the mortgage is between you and the lender. The lender cannot transfer possession to another party until you pay the debt and release the lien. Even if your loan is backed up by a mortgage, only you have all the rights of ownership to the property.

If the borrower does not pay what they are supposed to, it gives the lender the rights to protect their interests and foreclose on the property, which will secure their money back. Foreclosure generally goes through the judicial foreclosure process when a mortgage is used as lenders security, and it could take up to four months in this court system. In more than half of the states in the United States, mortgages are used as security measures for loans. Other states may use a deed of trust. Both processes have significant differences, but serve the same purpose.

A deed of trust is put into records to put a lien on your property, just a like a mortgage. Unlike a mortgage, however, it goes between you, the lender, and a “trustee”. A trustee is a third party who holds a temporary title until the lien is paid. The trustee should be a neutral party favoring neither the borrower nor the lender, in case a problem arises. Common third parties are attorneys, title insurance companies, or an escrow company. Trustees are not the ones who take over your property.

Deeds of trust are only revoked once the debt to the lender is paid off. In which case, the trustee issues a release of the deed, and the new record is made that the loan is paid, and the lender surrenders its interest.

Deed of trusts and mortgage differences only affect homeowners when foreclosing becomes an issue. In this case, the trustee sells your home once your loan becomes delinquent. Once the lender provides the trustee with proof of this type of occurrence, the request to foreclose begins.

Depending on where you live, state law determines how your loan is secured to begin with (either mortgage or deed of trust), or the process of foreclosure. It is, therefore, important to understand the type of lien will secure the debt of your home. Do plenty of research and make sure all your questions are answered before signing anything. Remember, lenders will foreclose your home to protect their interests, so just be certain that you are protecting yours as well by doing research.

About The Author

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Home Mortgage Refinance at http://www.mortgageandrefinancenow.com

How TO Buy A Foreclosed Home

Friday, July 27th, 2007

By Gregg Hall

Foreclosure begins when a property owner defaults on the mortgage of a property, mainly due to financial difficulties or the inability to keep up with the mortgage payments for some reason or another. In the event that a property succumbs to a foreclosure, it”s most likely that the property has not been maintained as it should have been.

This means that perhaps the roof is in dire need of repair, a damaged foundation or the landscaping has been severely neglected, or a number of other maintenance or repair issues that may be costly. Some foreclosure homes may only need a fair amount of TLC. The amount of repairs needed or required for the foreclosure property may greatly reflect on the asking price. A major fixer upper may be offered at a lower than normal price, whereas a property that is in fair condition may go for a price just the below the market value.

When a mortgage lending institution decides to foreclose on a property, they will file a notice of default that will become a public record for all buyers who are interested in locating foreclosed properties for purchase. There are many places buyers can look to find foreclosed properties such as: various web sites on the Internet, real estate agents or brokers and real estate magazines.

Once the buyer locates a foreclosed property they are interested in, the buyer can assess the public records and check for any liens on the property. Most liens that are placed on foreclosed properties are for unpaid taxes. Interested buyers should also check the values of the neighboring properties before entering into a contract, to make sure they would be getting a fair market value.

Novice buyers may be interested in checking out bank owned foreclosure properties. These bank owned foreclosure properties may prove to be at lower risks to the novice buyer. With bank owned foreclosure properties, there are usually no tenants to evict, no liens against the property and no past due taxes.

Some lending institutions may be eager to sell their foreclosed properties and may offer to finance the foreclosed property to the buyer at a low market rate or with a small down payment. If the lending institution has already done an appraisal, the interested buyer may not have to pay an additional appraisal fee. Most lending institutions that are eager to sell a foreclosed property may also include title insurance that generally removes most of the risks that come with buying properties early on in the foreclosure process.

The more experienced buyer may decide to find a pre-foreclosure property owner about to go into default and offer to buy the property for a portion of the difference between the property equity and the market value. This may be an acceptable offer to a property owner who doesn”t want to end up losing all of the equity that has been invested in the property. Some pre-foreclosure property owners may offer bargains to a persistent buyer. This is mostly because at this stage, credit collection agencies are constantly hounding the property owners, who would in turn want to resolve these issues to avoid any further harassment.

Buyers may sometimes find that contacting the owner of a pre-foreclosed property can be difficult. Usually by this time, the property owner may not have any electricity or a telephone. Sometimes these pre-foreclosed property owners may also be difficult to deal with directly, due to a drug or alcohol addiction that put them in their situation in the first place. Some owners may also be hostile to the buyer or unpleasant to deal with because they are bitter and frightened about losing their home and perhaps they have no other place to go. Some of these owners may even see the buyers of their foreclosed properties as their mortal enemy and may do some extra damage to the foreclosed property before evacuating the premises.

Many foreclosed properties are normally sold at prices close to the assessed value. Depending on what city or neighborhood the buyer is interested in, what the neighboring property values are, how long it has been on the market and what amount of work needs to be done to the foreclosed property will greatly reflect on the asking price.

About The Author

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. See foreclosures at http://www.houseandpropertyforeclosures.com

Boost Your Home\’s Resale Value Guaranteed

Friday, July 27th, 2007

By David Maillie

1) Lawn-care/landscaping. A lot of people overlook this one. A green lawn is a plus. A weedy, crabgrass filled lawn will detract from your homes presentability and value. Its not hard to green your lawn (use a weed & feed and apply it to the whole lawn – $20-$30). It will take a few weeks and will yield a major improvement. Have the lawn professionally cut (they will edge your lawn, remove weeds, etc… for $30 or so per session) – it shows you care and cared for your house. Well placed shrubs, trees, and flowers can make the ugliest home inviting. They can also hide shortcomings, misaligned panels, meters, hoses, pipes, and other out yard detriments and annoyances.

2) Paint/pressure washing the exterior. Many times the outside will brighten up with just a quick pressure washing (average $100-$150). This will remove dirt, cobwebs, some stains, mildew, etc… If there is more left when done you will need to repaint the exterior (average $500-$2000). This is more expensive, but will definitely brighten up your house and make it more marketable.

3) Driveway. Look at your driveway. Does it have oil stains, spots, look aged? Revitalize it. A good pressure washing will help most driveways. For stubborn oil stains and spots spray a mixture of 10-30% muriatic acid on the concrete wait one minute then pressure wash off. This will remove the most stubborn stains better than anything else. Be careful not to spray the acid on your lawn or let the over-spray from pressure washing get on the lawn (it will kill your grass and turn it yellow fast).

4) Entrance-way. If you don”t have a decorative glass door, get one. They are easily installed (goes on in front of your front door) and greatly dress up or finish a well kept house – they give it that finished touch. Also a few nicely trimmed potted plants, decorative plants and shrubs will add that welcoming and cozy feeling. Remember 95% of all home buying purchases are heavily influenced by a woman. Make them feel at home and you will get a much higher price and return for just a little work and a little money – well worth it.

5) Inside paint and trim work. This is a must. Have the interior repainted along with the trim work. Little dings, marks, scuffs, do detract from your homes value. Pick or stay with neutral colors. For free expert advice call your local realtor and ask them what sells (colors, etc…). They will be glad to tell you as you may become a client for them.

6) Make sure your appliances that are staying with the house all work.

Women are prone to try out appliances in the kitchen. Replace any mismatched appliances and upgrade to stay in tune with your neighborhood. Do not out price your neighborhood or you will risk throwing away money. Your realtor can best help you here as to whether you should go with granite, tile, formica and similar questions.

7) Useable space. Take that attic or extra closet and turn it into a bathroom or extra room if it is feasible. Remember the rule – square footage equals money. The more useful room you have the more you will get.

8) Carpets. Have them professionally cleaned and replaced if necessary. Potential buyers will be looking with the mindset of how much money and time they will have to put in to make it liveable and homelike. The more you help them, the better off you will be. There”s nothing like a stained carpet to bring down your value and deter buyers. Don”t just try the cover up method. These spots will come out when the buyer does their preclosing inspection – and don”t think they won”t.

9) Have your home inspected. Have the foundation, roof, plumbing, etc… checked out. By having the results of a positive inspection in hand for potential buyers it shows that you know you have a good, well cared for house. The buyers will be willing to pay more for your house. Also have it inspected for pests, ants,and other insects.

There you have it 9 steps that will guarantee a much higher resale value of any house in any area or neighborhood.

About The Author

David Maillie holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com or by visiting http://www.bestskinpeel.com.

Rural Homes \’Unaffordable\’

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

By Steve Smith

Property is becoming increasingly unaffordable for prospective first-time buyers in rural areas, it has been indicated.

According to figures released by the Commission for Rural Communities for the National Housing Federation (NHF), the average price for a home in the country stood at some 240,222 pounds during 2006. Meanwhile, the typical cost of property in an urban area was 196,700. Findings from the East Midlands branch of the NHF revealed that the average cost of a home in the region is worth 7.2 times the standard income, however this was reported to rise to ten times worth their salary for property in some rural areas. Consequently for a single person to afford secured loan repayments on a standard home in the area, they are said to be having to earn some 41,000 pounds per year.

Gina King, head of region for the NHF, said: “It is sad to note that soaring property prices, coupled with a chronic affordable housing shortage are forcing young people to move away from rural areas. House price inflation has produced increased wealth for many older residents and has undoubtedly helped drive improvements in the local economy, but for local people looking to buy their first home, or on middle incomes the situation has become dire. Many people are stranded between not being able to afford to buy or rent in these largely expensive markets and have no real priority for the little scarce affordable housing that is currently available”.

As a result, Ms King claimed that as the rural population is currently older than urban residents in addition to these consumers continuing to experience a higher rate of age growth, the government needs to do more to ensure first-time buyers are able to afford secured loan costs. She added that the provision of affordable property in the country is “urgently needed”.

Earlier this month, research carried out by mform indicated that young buyers are increasingly willing to take on higher borrowing in an attempt to get on to the first rung of the property ladder. The company revealed that 2.08 million under-35s are looking to take out a secured loan worth four times their annual pay. Some 828,000 of these Britons were prepared to borrow at five times their amount of their yearly income, with this falling to about a quarter of a million for those seeking six times their income.

Overall, 3.7 million borrowers were said to be looking to get a mortgage worth at least quadruple their annual salary within the next three years, with those aged 34 or under said to account for just over half (56 per cent) of such consumers. Figures from the financial company also indicated that 25 to 34-year-olds see getting on the property ladder as their biggest priority in life. Francis Ghiloni, spokesperson for the online mortgage firm, suggested that as property prices carry on rising and wage growth continues to curb, young consumers are evermore ready to “take on huge debt”. These borrowers were also reported to be choosing interest-only mortgages as “they will not be able to afford to repay the capital they have borrowed”.

About The Author

Steve Smith writes for 1 Stop Finance Shop, where our visitors have access to all types of finance from payday loans, and unsecured tenant loans, to self employed loans for homeowners. Visit today http://www.1stopfinanceshopuk.biz/

Free Home Foreclosure Listing: Valuable Information?

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

By Louis Vozza

The foreclosed home buying market is tight. And for good reason. Many people have learned that they can buy properties for a fraction of their value if they buy foreclosure or foreclosed properties. In order to help people find such properties and further their own business, many companies have started offering a free home foreclosure listing to potential buyers. But these “free” guides are not always worth the hassle.

One reason why this type of foreclosure listing may not be worth the trouble is that finding distressed and foreclosed properties in your area is not that difficult to do. Foreclosure listings are public record and can be accessed by everyone at the local courthouse. You can also contact local lending institutions in your area to find out what properties they have foreclosed upon. You can do all of this for no charge.

Granted, finding foreclosed properties on your own can take hours of research. This may make a free home foreclosure listing look like an easier alternative. But even with a free listing, you will have to browse through the countless national listings to find listings in your area. The listings might not even be up to date or accurate when you find them because many listings are generated through huge databases.

Buying foreclosure properties has also become very competitive with many potential buyers vying for the same property. A foreclosure listing that is available to everybody may not give you the competitive edge you need to find the investment opportunity or home of your dreams. In most cases, you can learn of a property quicker and in more detail if you perform the work yourself.

With that said, not all listings are a waste of your time. There are some reputable ones out there. You just need to know how to find them.

The first thing to look at in a free home foreclosure listing are the dates that the properties were listed. Since many foreclosures sell within days of being listed, an outdated list is not going to do you any good. Make sure that the dates are current and the listings fresh and unsold.

You should also be wary of offers from broad sources that promise to give you free listings in exchange for signing up for their “free” newsletter. In many cases, these types of foreclosure listings are only offered as a way to build lists of subscribers” personal information that will eventually be sold to marketers. Most of the time the information that they give you in return is generic and useless.

Once you get a listing, do not be afraid to put it to the test. If the properties are not local, if they are not current, or if they do not contain accurate information, do not use the list. The chances of finding and purchasing an ideal foreclosed property with an outdated, unspecific free home foreclosure listing are very slim.

About The Author

http://www.TheForeclosureInfoSite.com brings you information on many different types of foreclosures. There”s nothing to buy just real information for real people.Check us out today at http://www.TheForeclosureInfoSite.com

3 Things To Look For When Purchasing A New Florida Home

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

By Tom Beaty

Purchasing a new Florida home can be a fun and exciting process. With numerous homes for sale in various price ranges, today”s real estate market is heavily skewed in favor of the buyer. Sellers are offering incredible incentives, Realtors are working harder than ever before to make their buyers happy, interest rates remain low, and banks are eager to lend money to responsible buyers with good credit.

Today”s Florida home buyer can take their time, explore target neighborhoods, and find the perfect home to suit their needs and their budget. It is, however, very difficult to find the perfect home if the buyer is not prepared. In fact, the primary focus of any Florida home buyer should be to learn as much as possible about the current housing market, and most importantly, about pitfalls the Florida home buyer may face.

Potential pitfall number one: Overestimating your budget

The very first step every Florida home buyer should take is to do a thorough analysis of their personal finances, and of all the costs associated with owning a home. This will help to determine how much home you can truly afford and eliminate any unpleasant surprises.

After taking stock of your monthly income, monthly debt, and credit rating, you should have a good idea of how much money you can allocate to a house payment. A few additional costs you may want to consider are insurance costs, taxes, and lender fees. This is a good time to find a mortgage lender and obtain pre-approval for a loan.

A pre-approval is a solid estimate of how much a bank is willing to lend, how many points (if any) they will add, and an estimate of the interest rate they are willing to offer. Once you have this, you can calculate monthly payments and insurance costs, and determine with reasonable certainty how much home you can afford.

Potential pitfall number two: Realtor remorse

A Realtor can, quite literally, make or break your Florida home buying experience. This is why it is so important to take your time when selecting a Realtor. Ask friends and family members for recommendations, or at the very least, visit several agencies before making your final selection. It is very important to find a Realtor who listens carefully to determine what type of house you are looking for, and the price range which best suits your budget.

If a Realtor immediately pushes you toward a home outside your price range, does not thoroughly answer all of your questions, or simply gives you the feeling that they are not truly listening to what you want, move on. If there is anything about an agency or agent that makes you feel uncomfortable, trust that feeling and continue your search elsewhere.

Potential pitfall number three: Hefty repair costs
Failure to take repair costs into account when purchasing a home can lead to serious problems for the Florida home buyer. If you decide to purchase a home that is at the top of your price range, you should be reasonably certain that the home will not require any major repairs. The Florida climate can be brutal on homes, which means that a thorough home inspection is of vital importance before any home purchase.

Home inspections can be costly, so learning about potentially expensive repairs and how to spot potential issues in a home can save money by eliminating prospects from your list before they ever reach the inspection process. A few things to look for are cracked foundations, rotted wood, outdated plumbing and electrical systems, and signs of mold or flood damage. Also consider that if you purchase a newly-constructed home, there is no need to worry about repair costs. Everything is brand-new, and most builders offer a home warranty.

Finding the perfect home

The preceding list is by no means exhaustive, and there are many other ways in which a Florida home buyer can prepare themselves to purchase a new home. These are simply a few of the major pitfalls you can avoid as a Florida home buyer, and the suggestions will help you to better navigate the Florida housing market. By making these simple preparations and taking a few necessary precautions, you will be well on your way to finding your perfect Florida home.

About The Author

Real Estate Palm Coast Fl – Tom Beaty a real estate broker and home builders in Palm Coast, Flagler County, and Volusia County. Visit: http://www.FavoriteProperties.com or http://www.AffordableFloridaHomes.com